Three-quarters of public say nurses should be paid more

Most of the public believe nurses should be paid more and that the government does not ‘value’ the profession, a poll has suggested.

A YouGov poll of more than 2,000 adults across Great Britain suggests nursing staff are the top of the list of public sector professions that should receive higher pay.

Three-quarters (75%) of those polled said nurses should be paid more – higher than for doctors (45%), teachers (55%), the armed forces (50%), the police (47%) and civil servants (15%).

The poll, commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and carried out earlier this month, also found that two-thirds (66%) believe the UK Government ‘doesn’t value nursing staff very much or at all’.

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The results follow the launch of the RCN’s ‘largest ever’ consultation of NHS nursing staff over the 2025/26 3.6% pay award for Agenda for Change staff, and as the college warns of the ‘risk’ of strike action from the profession.

Nurses employed independently by a general practice are not included in the consultation. However, the RCN has raised concerns around the lack of clear messaging from the government on what pay award general practice nurses should receive this year.

Responding to the YouGov polling, RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said: ‘These findings show the government is out of step with the public.

‘Whoever you speak to, people overwhelmingly want nursing staff paid fairly, but yet again ministers put us at the back of the queue behind other professions.

‘Treating nursing like this is disrespectful and bad for the NHS too.’

She added that nursing pay ‘isn’t just about fairness and the cost of living, but what is best for patients’.

And she warned the government ‘won’t deliver’ on its highly anticipated NHS 10-year plan ‘without enough nursing staff and moving care from hospitals to communities will be unachievable’.

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‘The government cannot continue to give the impression that NHS workers must strike if they want fair pay,’ added Professor Ranger.

‘Nobody wants to be on the picket lines this year but without progress the government is creating that risk.

‘They have the opportunity now to do the right thing by properly addressing nursing pay.’

A government spokesperson said: ‘This government inherited a broken NHS with an overworked, undervalued and demoralised workforce.

‘We hugely value the work of talented nurses, and through our Plan for Change, we are rebuilding the NHS for the benefit of patients and staff, ensuring nursing remains an attractive career choice.’

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They added: ‘We have awarded nurses two above inflation pay rises since entering office as we recognise their pay has been hit over previous years.

‘This year, the government is delivering a real-terms pay rise for the second year in a row, meaning a nurse will earn over £30,000 as a new starter for the first time.’